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Does it make sense to use an expensive power cord for a power conditioner? I currently have the PS Audio P600. Is it overkill to use an expensive power cord (ie. Shunyata viper or anaconda) with this power conditioner verus using something much less expensive (ie. Shunyata Diamondback)?
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I tried a Flavor 4 w/ gold Wattgates on my Clear Image T4 and what it did to the music was serious. It outperformed my Jena Labs cryo'ed Tice PC3 w/ Highwire Wirewrap. Fantastic!
I second panorama's comment. No power conditioner can totally isolate the AC to the source components from signal-correlated fluctuations in line voltage due to current drawn by a typical high-power solid-state amplifier. Any resistance added to the power amp feed by a conditioner may affect the deep bass performance.In addition, some good friends of mine have found that power conditioners always lower and shrink the sound-stage when installed by their local dealer in front of the equipment (including SET power amps) they manufacture.
The cost of having dedicated lines installed is typically less than the retail price of a good power conditioner and fancy power cords for most houses in the USA. If you have very dirty power, then separate lines with individual conditioners might give added benefit, but IMO it makes sense to start with dedicated lines, then audition fancy power cords or conditioners from that basis.
If you live in an apartment and do not have the option of having dedicated lines, I recommend auditioning power conditioners and listening for problems with the sound-stage before you buy them.
If you do add dedicated lines, add plenty, since the cost per line goes down with most electricians. Separate your components as much as possible, but by all means separate the digital source from the power amp and the analog source. Be sure to have your power system ground (at the breaker panel) checked and refreshed if it looks at all questionable.
In addition, some good friends of mine have found that power conditioners always lower and shrink the sound-stage when installed by their local dealer in front of the equipment (including SET power amps) they manufacture.And there are some that don't. :--)
Perhaps we'll finally meet at CES?
:)
I have two in my room, but despite this good filters, such as the Equi=Tech, Velocitor, Harmonix, or Sound Application can much improve the sound.
I don't want to try to give hard and fast rules either. My limited experience with conditioners has been much less favorable, but that is in a dealership where I've tried to help my friends get the best sound from the display featuring their equipment. I've not had the chance to experiment with them myself.Multiple dedicated lines are effective at reducing interactions among components, but will only pass along incoming power problems.
My Wadia 861 gives slightly improved sound with a fancy power cord, even though it is on its own dedicated circuit. It might work better with a conditioner.
Same for me. I have 2 dedicated lines (use only one) and benefit greatly with a PLC. My BPT-2 is the first conditioner I've been able to successfully plug my power amp into.I agree with Norm about power cords too -- use a very good cord TO your PLC, like the VH Audio Type 4. As you might expect, you whole system benefits from the cord to your PLC, making it perhaps the most important.
I consider a power line conditioner to be enormously beneficial. In fact, adding the BPT was probably the 2nd most meaningful and satisfying improvement I've ever made in audio (number one was going from a Hafler 101 to a Conrad Johnson Premier 2 in the early 80s). It's been more meaningful to me than any speaker change, for example.
At least that is what I found out by going with my present setup. Dedicated lines done correctly makes a powerconditioner overkill.
I could not disagree more.
In my area the power is clean and does not fluctuate thanks to hardly any neighbors. I used a power conditioner. After I put my lines in the conditioner added no benefit whatsover. Check out my system. Off it went.
Even then I find that my system sounds best without any powerline conditioner and without any aftermarket powercords. Power supply is a multi-faceted problem, so no one AC tweak can really solve the problem. I can still hear differences throughout a day, but I really don't want to have to put up with other sonic abberations that come with powerline conditioning.I have used the Shunyata King Cobra v2 on the SACD player and 2 sets of Viper V2 on the amps. For a whole year, I wasn't happy. When I reverted back to stock powercord and plugged everything directly to the wall, they sound positively better. I have also verified this on different systems at different locations, in different countries, including in one major SACD manufacturer's HQ. These Powersnakes products simply kills the sound. I should have listened to Dan Agnanos, the guy who designed my speakers before I splashed the money on the Powersnakes. But, one always have to learn things the hard way. Dan, BTW is using the DAC-8 with a Meitnerised SCD-1.
I have not heard of such an animal. Please elaborate.
Before the SACD-1000 became available, Meitner had modified some SCD-1 and SCD-777ES for recording industry users and manufacturers to be capable of being used with his DAC-8.
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I'm thinking about before - the cable from the wall to the power conditioner.On a related subject, is it really necessary to have an ultra high-end power cable for the the turntable, since the power is used only to turn the platter of the table? It seems to me that one may get much more bang for the buck to have an ultra high end phono interconnect along with an ultra high-end power cable used for the phono preamp than something really expensive just the power the turntable motor.
On my turntable even with much filtering of the ac before it, I can hear tremendous differences among power cords. If anything, I think the power cord going to the ac filter is most important. All that I would really say is that you should try different cables rather than assuming they don't matter.
Thanks for your advice.
Ken
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